OVERVIEW: IM THE REASON (12) has performed well at the trials since his last run back in mid-March, beating some much higher-rated horses at Maryborough before a runner-up effort at Bacchus Marsh. He broke his maiden on the back of some good efforts in early March and can run well at likely good odds in this open event to start the meeting at Ballarat. GLENLINE (3) is a horse that rarely wins but is often hitting the line hard, and has done just that his past two starts when runner-up at Bendigo and Ballarat. From this draw, if he lands handy to the speed, he’s a big chance. EMJAY JAZZ (8) is going really well of late and might trail through the possible early leader here in GOZO MAJOR (1), while there’s a huge watch on THE FINAL DANCE (7) who is first-up for the powerhouse Emma Stewart stable but hasn’t been seen at the trials since making the stable switch. Plenty of hopes here!

BACK: IM THE REASON (12) – 0.5 unit (win)/1.5 units (place)

OVERVIEW: I fancied EL TORNADO (3) in a strong race at Maryborough last Sunday and he lost all chance after making a break in the last lap. He’s on the comeback from a long stint away from the races and I think there’s a fair bit of ability there, with his wins as a two-year-old in 2024 very impressive. His trial before the first-up start was good and I’m happy to give him another chance. ROMANTIC NINA (10) is a very hard horse to catch, but has lots of ability and will give this a shake on her best manners, DELS DESTINY (1) is drawn well and will be hitting the line hard, while IM EDDIE (6) is working up to a victory and heads the other hopes.

BACK: EL TORNADO (3) – 1 unit (win)

OVERVIEW: Super little race where a number of horses in good form do battle over 2200m. MIKI SING (9) looks a really progressive type for trainer Mitchell Frost and his first-up win at Wagga when parked and looking beaten at the turn was very impressive. He ran second in a hot Vicbred Silver Final last season, draws nicely off the back row and goes narrowly on top. MAJOR BLITZ (8) has led and won all three starts this campaign for trainer-driver Allan McDonough, but has to contend with the inside back row draw here. He’s a horse that takes a bit of driving, but I fancy he’s good enough to win again. GUNFORHIRE (5) chased home THE STEEL DRAGON (7) last time out at Bendigo and was a huge winner at Melton before that when sprinting past KEAYANG PAYTON (3). All of those horses are going well and can prevail with the right luck in transit.

BACK: MIKI SING (9) – 1 unit (each-way)

OVERVIEW: MIGHTY JOLT (9) produced a ripper run for second at Melton on debut for the new stable on March 28 and hasn’t been seen at the races since. He has tuned up for the return with a slick trial win at Bacchus Marsh and looks well placed here for Dean Braun and James Herbertson. The key danger appears to be KEAYANG SWEETHEART (8), who is a smart mare from the powerhouse Lee barn. She sat parked and boxed on well for second in a sizzling last half at Melton last weekend and just needs some luck from the draw to be right in this. RANGER RICK (6) hasn’t been out of the placings in all five runs this campaign, while fast beginner DANCE AFFAIR (5) can improve third-up and if he finds the top.

BACK: MIGHTY JOLT (9) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: This is the second running of the Rising Star two-year-old event at Ballarat, with the winner set to be taken as Durham Park and Ballarat and District Trotting Club’s runner in the $500,000 Protostar in Queensland next month. And I’m confident that will be COMEANDSEE (2) for the Emma Stewart stable. She has been absolutely brilliant in her two career starts to date, with huge wins in good time at Bendigo and Maryborough stamping her as one of the best juveniles in the country. I think she will lead and win. Stablemate KAHULA (1) was impressive sitting parked through the last lap in taking out the $200,000 Nutrien Final for two-year-old fillies at Wagga in late May and draws to trail the top pick, another of the Stewart runners in CARDIGAN SNIPER (7) looked a little lazy but won easily on debut at Bendigo on May 6, while THEMIDNIGHTEXPRESS (9) is a nice horse with six runs of experience who is capable of sneaking into the First 4 numbers for trainer Damien Burns.

OVERVIEW: EXOTIC CHESTER (2) drew wide and went back to last on debut at Geelong last week, but reeled off a big finale to finish fourth. It was a really encouraging first-up display, and from the better draw he can go close in what appears a maiden without much depth. BETTOR PUNTER (7) has a sticky gate but looks ready to break his maiden after some good recent efforts, including when third at Melton a fortnight ago in a slick enough last quarter, IMALLATTITUDE (5) ran a great second at Horsham on May 25 and there was a huge margin back to third which I always like, while HANORA (1) gets the services of master reinsman James Herbertson and the inside gate, so can improve sharply on his two career runs to date.

BACK: EXOTIC CHESTER (2) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: WALKIN UNDERSTARZ (6) looks a talented mare from the John Tormey stable who returned to the races with an eye-catching second at Shepparton on June 2. She settled at the rear of the field and sprinted hard with a slick last quarter to close the margin on the winner to 5.6m. Her maiden victory last campaign was good and she might have a bit more scope than some of her rivals. It’s a wide-open event where most of these runners have a chance, however. JETAWAY SAINT (2) looked set to fight out the finish but galloped at a crucial stage last week at Kilmore, NO TELLING HEATHER (4) dropped out after leading at Ballarat last time but the run prior was good when second to Buckles For Berry, while AT THE DISTANCE (3) might just be the pick of the two Ross Graham runners from the draw.

OVERVIEW: NUCLEAR ATTITUDE (5) broke through for a long-awaited victory here at Ballarat back on May 14 and is fancied in this tricky event to close the card. Since that win – in which he defeated TOUCHANDGO (2) – Ginger Gleeson’s trotter ran another good race at Geelong last Friday night. He led and was only beaten 5.3m by Shezalover and has formlines that make him a key contender here. While ROBERT JOHN (3) was a little disappointing last time out, his prior form is solid for a race like this and he looks another of the major players alongside stablemate RASENGAN (6), who ran well when second at Bendigo on June 3. JOE LOU (4) has made mistakes his last couple, but is capable if on his best behaviour.